The rise of what for a time was the most powerful crime family in America began in 1957, the day Albert Anastasia was assassinated while sitting in a barber chair at the Park-Sheraton Hotel in Manhattan. Experts believe Carlo Gambino helped orchestrate the hit to take over the family. Gambino partnered with Meyer Lansky to control gambling interests in Cuba. The family’s fortunes grew through 1976, when Gambino appointed his brother-in-law, Paul Castellano, as boss. Castellano infuriated upstart capo John Gotti, who orchestrated Castellano's murder in 1985. Gotti's downfall came in 1992, when his underboss Sammy Gravano decided to cooperate with the FBI. Gravano's cooperation brought down Gotti, along with most of the top members of the Gambino family. The family is believed to be currently run by street boss John "Jackie" D'Amico

History

Origins

The origins of the Gambino crime family can be traced back to the emergence of Palermo mafioso, Salvatore "Toto" D'Aquila upon the New York mafia scene around 1906, which is when D'Aquila's name first appears on police records for running a confidence scam, a racket that requires a great deal of intelligence and patience. D'Aquila had immigrated to the United States as an influential Palermitano mafioso, and quickly used his ties to other mafia leaders across the country to create a network of connections and to gain influence within the Italian-American underworld. By 1910 D'Aquila had become the leader of his own New York-based Sicilian mafia group, one of four that emerged by the mid 1900s.

These four crime families included D'Aquila's own crime family based in East Harlem, Manhattan, which was also the base of the "first family", the Morello crime family. The Morello family was originally led by Giuseppe Morello and his half-brothers, Vincent, Ciro and Nick Terranova, and then by Joe Masseria, who became D'Aquila's biggest rival in New York. Two Brooklyn-based crime families emerged: one was the Castellammarese clan, led by Nicola "Cola" Schiro from Roccamena, Sicily (not from Castellammare del Golfo, Sicily, where the majority of his Brooklyn crime family members came from), and second was a group led by Alfred Mineo based in Brooklyn. Eventually, two more Mafia groups emerged in New York City during Prohibition: This was a break-away faction from the Morello crime family based in the Bronx and led by Gaetano Reina, who was once aligned with boss Ciro "The Artichoke King" Terranova, and the last group formed in the late 1920s based in Brooklyn and led by Joe Profaci. Profaci became boss of one of the Five Families of New York that soon emerged once power in New York's Italian underworld was consolidated and the factions re-structured into the crime families that ruled organized crime in the city and across the country for the next eight decades.

By the mid 1910s D'Aquila had become the most influential Mafia boss in New York, in part because former New York Mafia "boss of bosses", Giuseppe Morello and his brother-in-law and second-in-command, Ignazio Saietta, had been imprisoned for 30 years in 1909 for counterfeiting. D'Aquila continued to amass power and influence within New York's Sicilian underworld and across the nation as his crime family grew in numbers and territory.

The expansion of the D'Aquila crime family was aided by the decimation of the Brooklyn Camorra led by Neapolitan mafia boss, Don Pellegrino Morano, when Morano and his second-in-command, Alessandro Vollero were imprisoned for life in 1917, following a war with the Morello crime family, which led to the murder of boss Nick Morello (born Terranova) in 1916, which Morano and Vollero were convicted for.

By the beginning of Prohibition, the remaining Neapolitan Mafia members and the territory once under control of bosses Morano and Vollero were absorbed into the D'Aquila crime family. Soon after the Brooklyn-based Mineo group was also absorbed into Toto D'Aquila's crime family, making it the largest and most influential in New York City. The only remaining rival that D'Aquila needed to fear was the expanding forces and growing influence of boss Giuseppe "Joe the Boss" Masseria. Masseria had taken over the Morello crime family interests and territory by 1920, and quickly began to amass a great deal of power and influence, enough to rival D'Aquila by the mid 1920s.

By the late 1920s D'Aquila and Masseria were headed for a showdown and inevitable war, but Masseria struck first and D'Aquila was killed on October 10, 1928 by Masseria family gunmen. The crime family D'Aquila had led passed into the hands of his second-in-command or underboss, Alfred Mineo and his top lieutenant Steve Ferrigno, who at the height of the Prohibition era commanded the largest and most influential Sicilian crime family in New York City.

The Castellammarese War, between rival New York bosses Joe Masseria and Salvatore Maranzano claimed many victims, including Mineo and Ferrigno who were ambushed and killed on November 5, 1930, outside Ferrigno's home at 759 Pelham Parkway South. It was the latest in a long line of killings on both sides of the war, which ultimately ended with the deaths of both principals - Masseria in April 1931 and Maranzano five months later. The main beneficiary (and organizer of both hits) was Charlie "Lucky" Luciano, who rearranged New York's organized crime and established the basis of the "Five Families" of New York, which became known as the Commission of the Cosa Nostra.[4]

After the Castellammarese War

Following a brief period under the control of Frank Scalice, the first recognized leader of what became the Gambino family was Vincenzo "Vincent" Mangano, an old-school Mafia don in the style of Masseria and Maranzano, but one who was tolerated due to his close ties with Emil Camarda, the vice-president of the International Longshoremen's Association. Through the association, Mangano and the family controlled the New York and Brooklyn waterfront with activities including extortion, union racketeering, and illegal gambling operations including horse betting, running numbers and lotteries. Mangano also established the City Democratic Club, ostensibly to promote bedrock American values but in reality as a cover for Murder, Inc., the notorious band of mainly Jewish hitmen who did the bidding of the Italian-American run families, for a price. Phil Mangano was a member, as was Albert Anastasia, known as the "Lord High Executioner". Around this time, Carlo Gambino was promoted within the organization, as was another future boss of the family, Gambino's brother-in-law Paul "Big Paul" Castellano.[5]

Mangano brothers murdered

Anastasia and Mangano never entirely saw eye to eye. Mangano resented that Anastasia had a girl's name, preferred to keep the company of various members of the other families, and on numerous occasions the two almost came to blows. This was only ever going to end badly for Mangano, and in April 1951, Phil Mangano was discovered murdered, while his brother disappeared without a trace. Although it has never been proven, it is generally believed that Vince was murdered by Anastasia.

Called to answer for the crimes of which he was suspected by the other New York bosses, Anastasia never admitted to his involvement in the deaths of the Manganos but did claim that Vince had been planning to have him killed. He had since begun running the family himself, and few in the organization found themselves inclined to depose one of the most feared killers of the age. Carlo Gambino, a wily character with designs on the leadership himself, maneuvered himself into position as underboss to Anastasia.[5]

Genovese thus jumped on the 1952 killing of a Brooklyn man named Arnold Schuster, who Anastasia had killed for the most minor of indiscretions (acting as a prosecution witness against a bank robber Anastasia didn't even know), as evidence that Anastasia was unbalanced and a threat to the syndicate. With Gambino secretly siding with Genovese against his own boss, the wheels were in motion for the removal of Anastasia.

Anastasia had too much dissension in his own family, and his own captains grew tired of his mood swings and temper tantrums.

Six months later, on October 25, 1957, Anastasia was murdered while sitting in a barber's chair at the Park Sheraton Hotel on West 56th Street. For many years, the murder was believed to have been committed by Joseph "Crazy Joe" Gallo. Later, Colombo crime family boss and Gallo foe, Carmine "Junior" Persico claimed credit. Anastasia's former Underboss Carlo Gambino took the reins of the family, which from then on bore his name. Biondo was rewarded with the Underboss position, which he kept until his death in 1966. Grammauta eventually became a caporegime in the 1990s.

Former Gambino crime family Boss Carlo Gambino taken sometime in the early to mid 1970s, shortly before Gambino's death.

Gambino promotes the family

Genovese was sent to prison for 15 years, where he died in 1969. The Gambino family soon became the most powerful family crime family in the United States, with close ties to Meyer Lansky's offshore gaming houses in Cuba and the Bahamas, a lucrative business for the Mafia. The failure of Joseph "Joe Bananas" Bonanno, the head of the Bonanno crime family and Gambino's top rival, to kill off Gambino and the heads of other New York crime families in the aftermath of the Bonanno War, saw Gambino become the most powerful leader of the "Five Families".[6]

Gambino allegedly stretched his power as far as to organize the shooting of Joseph Colombo, head of the Colombo crime family, on June 28, 1971. More likely, Colombo shooter Jerome Johnson was a lone nut attracted to Colombo for his Italian civil rights movement. Or as Michael Franzese, an informer later said, it may have been set up by rogue law enforcement, or by Carlo Gambino himself. Colombo survived the shooting but remained in a coma until his death in 1978. He was buried next to Joseph Gallo. Johnson was killed by Colombo's bodyguard.

On October 15, 1976, Gambino died of a heart attack, and control of the family passed not to the obvious choice, Underboss Aniello "Mr. Neil" Dellacroce, but to Paul Castellano, whose sister was married to Gambino. Allies of Dellacroce were thoroughly unhappy about that move, but Dellacroce himself kept his men in line, and was kept on as Castellano's Underboss.[6]

The FBI closes in

The Dellacroce faction remained displeased, believing that Castellano had inherited the role rather than earning it. Castellano did retain a degree of muscle to keep Dellacroce's allies in check, including the notorious crew run by Anthony "Nino" Gaggi and Roy DeMeo, which was believed to have committed over 200 murders during Castellano's regime from the late 1970s and mid 1980s. While Castellano was still in charge, most of the family affairs were run and controlled unofficially by a 4 man ruling-panel which included powerful Garment District leader Thomas "Tommy" Gambino, bodyguard and later Underboss Thomas "Tommy" Bilotti, and powerful Queens faction-leaders Daniel "Danny" Marino and James "Jimmy Brown" Failla, all top rivals of John Gotti.

It was not a time for the family to be embroiled in inner turmoil and argument, as the Federal Bureau of Investigation had targeted the Gambino family as the easiest of the five families to infiltrate - FBI tapes obtained from a bug planted in a lamp on Castellano's kitchen table caught him discussing illegal deals with his subordinates, and by the early 1980s Castellano was up on a number of charges and faced with conviction. He let it be known that he wanted Carlo Gambino's son Thomas to take over the family should he be sent to jail, with Thomas Bilotti (Castellano's chauffeur and bodyguard) as his Underboss, which further enraged the Dellacroce faction, particularly John Gotti.[7]

In 1983, a federal indictment charged 13 members of the Gambino family with drug trafficking. This group included John Gotti's brother, Gene, and his best friend, Angelo "Quack Quack" Ruggiero, who got his nickname for his non-stop talking. The feds had in fact been listening in on his home phone conversations since 1980 - they had Ruggiero on tape discussing family business, making drug deals, and expressing contempt for Castellano. If Castellano knew they were dealing drugs, in violation of his no-drug policy, Ruggiero was killed. By law, the accused were allowed transcripts of wiretap conversations to aid their defense, and Castellano demanded to be shown them, though Dellacroce did his best to put him off.[7]

Dellacroce was by this time suffering from cancer, but with Ruggiero desperate for help, his friend John Gotti stood up for him. All the same, Castellano maintained that he wanted the transcripts, or he would have Ruggiero and Gotti removed. Gotti realized he had to act fast, and the death of his mentor Dellacroce on December 2, 1985, paved the way for him to take out Castellano.

John Gotti takes over

On December 16, 1985, Bilotti and Castellano were heading for a meeting with capo Frank DeCicco at the Sparks Steak House on 46th Street, when they were gunned down by four unidentified men in the middle of rush hour.

Known as the "Dapper Don," Gotti was well-known for his hand-tailored suits and silk ties and his willingness to throw out sound bites to the media in a way unlike any Mafia boss before him. Unlike most of his colleagues, he made almost no effort to hide that he was a connected mobster. He appointed DeCicco as his Consigliere and promoted Ruggiero to Caporegime in charge of his old crew. At that time, Salvatore "Sammy the Bull" Gravano was allegedly elevated to Underboss. Gotti favored holding meetings while walking in public places so that surveillance equipment could pick up visual images, but not the matters being discussed. His home in Howard Beach, Queens, was frequently seen on television. One of his neighbours during that time was John Favara, who disappeared after hitting Gotti's 12-year-old son with a car while he was riding his bike, killing him instantly. Another neighbor was Gotti's dear friend and associate, Joseph "Big Joe" Massino, who was during the late 1980s recognized as the Underboss of the Bonanno crime family, and a strong candidate for leadership, for the imprisoned Boss Philip "Rusty" Rastelli.[8]

Many mob leaders disapproved of his high-profile style, particularly Genovese crime family boss Vincent "Chin" Gigante, a former ally of Castellano. Ironically, Gigante had been the triggerman in the last unsanctioned hit on a Mafia boss, when he nearly killed Frank Costello in 1957. Gigante allegedly conspired with Lucchese crime family leaders Vittorio "Vic" Amuso and Anthony "Gaspipe" Casso, to put out a contract on Gotti's life. On April 13, 1986, a car bomb meant for Gotti instead killed DeCicco.[8]

Eventually, Gotti's brash demeanor and belief that he was untouchable (he was acquitted on federal charges three times, earning the nickname the "Teflon Don") proved his undoing. The FBI had managed to bug an apartment above the Ravenite Social Club in Little Italy, where an elderly widow let mobsters hold top-level meetings. Gotti was heard planning criminal activities and complaining about his underlings. In particular, he complained about Gravano, portraying him as a "mad dog" killer. Gravano responded by turning state's evidence and testifying against Gotti.

On April 2, 1992, largely on the strength of Gravano's testimony, Gotti and current Consigliere Frank "Frankie Loc" LoCascio were convicted and received a sentence of life without parole.

The family since Gotti

Gotti continued to rule the family from prison, while day-to-day operation of the family shifted to capos John "Jackie Nose" D'Amico and Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo. The latter was due to take over as acting boss but was himself sentenced to eight years in prison on racketeering charges. Gotti's son, John "Junior" Gotti, took over as head of the family, but in 1998 he too was convicted of racketeering and sentenced to 77 months in jail.

When Gotti Sr died in prison in 2002, his brother Peter took over as boss, allegedly alongside D'Amico, but the family's fortunes have dwindled to a remarkable extent given their power a few short decades ago, when they were considered the most powerful criminal organization on earth. Peter Gotti was imprisoned as well in 2003, as the leadership allegedly went to the current administration members, Nicholas Corozzo, Jackie D'Amico and Joseph Corozzo.[8]

As former rivals of John Gotti took completely over the Gambino family, mostly because the rest of Gotti's loyalists were either jailed or under indictments, and that Gotti, Sr died in prison in 2002, then-current head of white collar crimes and caporegime, Michael "Mikey Scars" DiLeonardo turned state's evidence due to increased law enforcement and credible evidence toward his racketeering trial, and was forced to testify against mobsters from all of the Five Families. One of the last Gotti supporters, DiLeonardo testified against among others Peter Gotti and Anthony "Sonny" Ciccone from 2003 to 2005, and disappeared into the Witness Protection Program. At the same time, Sammy Gravano, Gotti's former Underboss, had evaded the program in 1995 and was arrested and jailed for operating an Ecstasy-ring that stretched from Arizona to New York City in 2003. During that same year, he was sentenced to 19 years in prison, ironically due to informants amongst his associates.

In 2005, Nicholas Corozzo and his longtime underling Leonard "Lenny" DiMaria were released from prison after serving ten years for racketeering and loansharking charges in New York and Florida. That same year, US law enforcement recognized Corozzo as the Boss of the Gambino crime family, with his brother Joseph Corozzo as the family Consigliere, Arnold "Zeke" Squitieri as the acting Underboss and Jackie D'Amico as a highly regarded member with the Corozzo brothers.

Jack Falcone

Retired FBI agent, Joaquin Garcia infiltrated the Gambino crime family under the alias of Jack Falcone beginning in 2002. Greg DePalma, the Gambino family capo, offered Garcia the position of made man, which would have made Garcia the second federal agent to achieve this position in the Mafia. The first was FBI agent Joe Pistone who used the allias of Donnie Brasco in the late 1970s working for the Bonanno crime family. However, the FBI investigation ceased in 2005 when Garcia's cover was in danger of being blown. But, with sufficient evidence to convict DePalma and several other high-ranking mafiosi, DePalma was arrested and convicted to twelve years in federal prison thanks in large part to Garcia's efforts.

Operation Old Bridge

On Thursday, February 7, 2008, an indictment and four-year-long FBI investigation only known as Operation Old Bridge was issued, leading to 54 people affiliated with the Gambino crime family being arrested that very day in New York City and its northern suburbs, New Jersey and Long Island. A federal grand jury later that day accused 62 people of having ties to the Gambino crime family and offenses such as murders, conspiracy, drug trafficking, robberies, extortion and other crimes were included in the indictment. By the end of the week, more than 80 people were indicted in the Eastern District of New York. The case is now referred to as United States of America v. Agate et al. It was assigned to Judge Nicholas Garaufis. The FBI was able to collect the needed information through informant Joseph Vollero, the owner of a truck company on Staten Island, who secretly recorded several conversations between him and members of the Gambino family about three years prior to when the indictment was handed out.[9]

The federal operation broke up a growing alliance between the Gambinos and the Sicilian Mafia, who wanted to get into further ahead into the drug trade. One of those arrested in the raids in the US was Frank Cali, a captain in the Gambino family. He is allegedly the "ambassador" in the US for the Inzerillo crime family.[10]

Current position and leadership

From the year of 2005 and toward 2008, the federal authorities has accomplished the prosecution and conviction of prominent Gambino crime family leaders, including the current administration and several captains, soldiers and associates. Since both federal and New York State authorities rounded up the entire Gambino family hierarchy in early 2008, there is an apparent power-vacuum in the Gambino family. Many speculate the new acting boss is the legendary Castellano-loyalist Daniel "Danny" Marino of the Queens faction of the family. Fresh out of jail, Carmine Agnello is also being watched very closely.

A March 2009 article in the New York Post stated that the Gambino family is currently being run by a three-man panel of street bosses consisting of Daniel "Danny" Marino, John Gambino and Bartolomeo "Bobby" Vernace while the members of the family's administration serve prison sentences. The article also states that the family consists of approximately 260 "made" members.[1] Both street boss Jackie D'Amico and underboss Domenico Cefalu were finished serving prison terms on November 3, 2009, but D'Amico was kept in custody while being arraigned on new charges.

On September 17, 2009, Charles "Charlie Carnegs" Carneglia was sentenced to life in prison.[11] In 2009 former NBA referee Tim Donaghy said that two men associated with the Gambino family James Battista and Thomas Martino used his knowledge of NBA games to pick winners in illegal sports gambiling.[12][13][14]

On November 18, 2009 the NYPD arrested 22 members and associates of the Lucchese and Gambino crime families.[15] The raid was a result of cases involving loan sharking and sports gambling on Staten Island. There are also charges of bribing New York City court officers and bribing Sanitation Department officials. The Operation Pure Luck investigated Gambino's family loansharking and bookmaking activities on Staten Island.[16] Gambino family capo Carmine Sciandra, soldier Michael Murdocco, associates Vinnie LaFace and Benedetto Casale were arrested.

Historical leadership of the Gambino crime family

Bosses (official and acting)

1910–1928 — Salvatore "Toto" D'Aquila (by the start of Prohibition what was left of the Brooklyn Camorra and the Al Mineo group had merged with the D'Aquila's group to form the largest crime family in New York. D'Aquila was killed on orders of boss Joe Masseria in 1928)

Acting 2005–2008 — John "Jackie the Nose" D'Amico (1937- ) (arrested Feb. 17, 2008 - Operation Old Bridge, released on bond March 14, 2008, plea deal May 2008, sentenced 2 years on August 18, 2008, released on Nov. 3 2009)

Acting 2005–2008 — Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo (1940- ) (Corozzo is without a doubt one of the most influential family members and was rumored to be the real boss, while D'Amico was acting boss on the street, indicted Feb. 17, 2008 - Operation Old Bridge, but fled, turned himself in May 29, 2008, plead deal July 2008, and April 17, 2009 sentenced to 13 1/2 years, scheduled release date: 2022)

Consiglieri

Consigliere is one of the top four positions in the organization. Together, the boss, street boss, underboss and consigliere are referred to as "the administration." In Italian, consigliere means "advisor."

Street BossJohn "Jackie Nose" D'Amico is a capo. He took over John Gotti's old crew in the early 1990s, operated in Queens and Brooklyn with labor racketeering, loansharking, extortion and murder. Named "street boss" in 2005, he administered the family along with the Corozzo brothers. Named as one of the main defendants following the indictments from Operation Old Bridge, he pleaded guilty to an extortion operation at Staten Island and was in August sentenced to two years in prison.

UnderbossArnold "Zeke" Squitieri is a longtime caporegime in the Gambino crime family, used to operate in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn with drug trafficking during the 1980s. Now he's currently promoted to family Underboss. Squitieri was convicted of drug trafficking, illegal gambling and tax evasion in 2006, and is currently serving just over seven years in prison. His projected release date is November 12, 2011.

ConsigliereJoseph "Jo Jo" Corozzo is a longtime caporegime in the crime family and brother of powerhouse capo Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo. Like his brother Jo Jo is a known John Gotti rival and has been consigliere of the crime family since 1992, coming to power after the imprisonment of Gotti. The Queens based "Corozzo faction" is currently one of the most influential within the crime family. Jo Jo and his brother Nick were indicted and arrested during Operation Old Bridge, along with various members of the crime family on February 8, 2008. In June 2008 Jo Jo pleaded guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge concerning the extortion of a Staten Island concrete firm and was sentenced 46 months.

Current family Capos

According to the New Jersey Organized Crime Report the Family has 10 active crews.[17]

Under the former Gotti regime of the 1980s and 90s the Gambino crime family had 24 active crews operating across New York City, in all 5 boroughs and in New Jersey, South Florida and Connecticut. Under the latest regimes of the new millennium, the Gambino crime family now operates with roughly 20 crews and crew leaders or caporegimes, along with various acting capos that supervise the crews for incarcerated crime family leaders.

New York

Brooklyn

Joseph "Sonny" Juliano - Capo in the Brooklyn faction of the Gambino crime family with illegal gambling, loansharking, fraud and wire fraud activities. Used to manage and operate a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling ring in 30 different locations in New York City.[18][19]

Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island

Carmine "Top Tomato" Sciandra - Capo, based in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Staten Island and Connecticut. An influential capo, who owns the successful "Top Tomato" vegetable and fruit markets. Sciandra was shot in December 2005 by a known mob associate while working at his Staten Island market location, but he was only wounded. He is currently under indictment for loan sharking and gambling charges.[20]

George "Butters" DeCicco - Capo and brother of former Gambino Underboss, Frank DeCicco. A loyalist to John Gotti, DeCicco has been operating out of the Staten Island and Brooklyn factions of the family with loansharking since the 1980s.[21][22]

Brooklyn, Manhattan, New Jersey

John "Jackie Nose" D'Amico - Capo, took over the old John Gotti crew in the early 1990s, operates in Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey. He is involved in labor racketeering, gambling, loansharking and extortion. Currently the street boss of the family along with the Corozzo brothers. Copped a guilty plea to extorting a Staten Island concrete firm; sentenced on August 2008 to 2 years; released on November 3, 2009.[23][24][25]

Francesco "Frank" Cali - Capo, who operates in Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey. According to the FBI Cali is allegedly the official Gambino "ambassador to the Sicilian Mafia" and a rising star in the crime family. Cali extorted money with Leonard DiMaria from Joseph Vollero's trucking company on Staten Island. A major suspect in the drug trafficking between the Sicilian Mafia and the Gambinos, Cali copped a plea and was released on May 30, 2009.[26][27]

Sicilian Faction

Giovanni "John" Gambino - Capo of the Gambino Sicilian or Zip faction. Gambino is a Sicilian man of honor made into the Gambino crime family, a member of the Inzerillo-Gambino-DiMaggio-Spatola clan in Sicily. He is a known drug trafficker and now allegedly leads the Gambinos as part of a 3-man ruling panel/committee.[28][29][30]

Vincent "Vinny Butch" Corrao - Capo, who's family has operated from Manhattan for three generations. He took over the crew of his father Joseph Corrao, a former Paul Castellano loyalist and big loan shark, who operated from his his place Cafe Biondo on Mulberry St. in Little Italy. Corrao's grandfather "Vinny the Shrimp" was also a former Gambino capo, who also passed his crew and operations down to his son.[33][34][35][36]

Salvatore "Mr. Sal" Franco- Capo, Manhattan based crew leader.

Manhattan, Queens

Joseph "Jo Jo" Corozzo - Current Consigliere and brother of Nicholas Corozzo, with alleged loansharking and illegal gambling operations in Manhattan and Queens. Held his position since 1992 as a former rival of John Gotti. Named in the Operation Old Bridge indictments along with his brother Nick, Corozzo was arrested and put into custody on February 8 and in June was sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge involving the extortion of a Staten Island concrete firm.[37][38]

Joseph "Joe" Lombardi - Capo, based in Manhattan and Staten Island.

Joseph "Joe the Blond" Giordano - Capo, based in Manhattan and Long Island.[39][40][41]

Queens

Daniel "Danny" Marino - Capo of the Gambinos' Queens faction with labor and construction racketeering operations. A longtime rival of John Gotti, Marino was involved in the murder-conspiracy that killed Frank DeCicco instead of Gotti in 1986.[42][43]

Bartolomeo "Bobby" Vernace - Capo of a Queens based crew. Little is known about Vernace, an old time Gambino member known as "Bobby" or "Pepe" by his friends. He allegedly operating out of his Vita Cafe on Cooper Ave. located in Flushing, Queens, where Vernace was known for running gambling games.[28][44]

Louis "Louie Bracciole" Ricco - Caporegime, controls illegal gambling, loansharking and racketeering in one half of the Bronx, as well as operating out of the New Jersey and Brooklyn factions of the family.[48][49]

Imprisoned capos

(In prison) Anthony "Sonny" Ciccone - Capo and legend on the Brooklyn waterfront. He is a dock boss and overseer of all the Gambinos Brooklyn waterfront rackets. Currently imprisoned on various extortion charges.[50] His projected release date is April 24, 2013.[51]

(In prison) Leonard "Lenny" DiMaria - Capo, personal right-hand-man for Nicholas Corozzo since early 1970s. Operates in Brooklyn and Manhattan with racketeering and loansharking. Alleged racketeering operations in Florida.[54] His release-date is September 2, 2012.[55]

(In prison) Michael "Mickey Boy" Paradiso- Capo, based out of Brooklyn and Queens. He is involved in gambling, loansharking, extortion and narcotics and is currently in prison. His projected release date was scheduled for February 8, 2010.[56]

(In prison) Anthony "Tony Genius" Megale - Capo and co-leader of the Sicilian faction of the family with Domenico Cefalu, Megale was named former acting underboss of the Gambino family after Peter Gotti was sent to prison in 2002 and is still recognized as the crime family's Connecticut faction leader.[57][58] His projected release date is July 18, 2014.[59]

(In prison) Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo - Capo. Brother of Consigliere Joseph Corozzo, uncle of Joseph Jr. and currently the most influential caporegime in the crime family. Became a fugitive for almost four months, currently incarcerated on a 13 year sentence.[61][62]

New Jersey

The Gambino crime family operates in Bergen, Passaic, and Essex counties with 3 crews the Mitarotonda crew, the Sisca crew, and the Cherry Hill Gambino’s. Other capos that operate in New Jersey are John D'Amico, Louis Ricco, Francesco Cali, and Thomas Cacciopoli.[17]

(In prison) Arnold "Zeke" Squitieri - Underboss, longtime caporegime in the Gambino crime family, used to operate in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn with drug trafficking during the 1980s. Now he's currently promoted to family Underboss. Squitieri was convicted of drug trafficking, illegal gambling and tax evasion in 2006, and is currently serving just over seven years in prison. His projected release date is November 12, 2011.

(In prison) Nicholas Mitarotonda - capo, based in Roseland, New Jersey he is currently incarcerated and due out March 1, 2011.

(In prison) Andrew Merola -was acting capo of the Mitarotonda crew, based in Elizabeth, N.J. operating from a trailer under the Goethals Bridge. Merola is connected to Lucchese crime family, Jersey Crew leader Martin Taccetta. His crew is operating illegal gambling, loan-sharking, extortion and labor racketeering in New Jersey.[69][70]

(In prison) Alphonse "Funzi" Sisca - Capo, based in New Jersey and Queens. Sisca was a former John Gotti associate and ally, and the former drug dealing partner of Angelo Ruggiero and Arnold Squitieri. He is currently in prison and is scheduled for release September 27, 2010.

Acting Louis "Bo" Filippelli - Acting Capo of the New Jersey and Queens based Sisca crew. He is the overseer of the crew while Sisca is imprisoned.

Vincent "Juicy" DiModica - Capo for Gambino Family in New Jersey

Rosario Spatola - capo of the Cherry Hill Gambinos the cousin of Giuseppe and Giovanni Gambino and has taken over the Sicilian crew.

Florida

(In prison) Vincent "Little Vinny" Artuso – is a 65 year old capo living in South Palm Beach, Florida. Artuso is the leader of a South Florida crew operating in Broward County, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach County, Boca Raton and Palm Beach Island. On January 22, 2008 in Fort Lauderdale Artuso and his associates John Vincent Artuso (Artuso’s son), Gregory Orr, Robert Gannon, Philip Edward Forgione, and William Larry Horton were charged with racketeering. Then again in September 2008 Artuso and his associates John Artuso (his son), Gregory Orr, Robert Gannon, and Philip Edward Forgione were charged with racketeering, mail and wire fraud, and money laundering.[71][72] Artuso is currently imprisoned at the Coleman Federal Correctional Complex located in Florida; his projected release date is August 28, 2016.[73] His son John Vincent Artuso 44 years-old is also imprisoned at the same complex and his release date is July 29, 2016.[74]

Freddy Massaro - Capo in the Gambino crime family operating in South Florida were he owns a restaurant called Beachside Mario’s that is located in Miami-Dade County, Sunny Isles Beach.[75][76]

Soldiers

(In prison) Blaise Corozzo - Soldier and another of the Corozzo brothers. He is serving a one to three year sentence in state prison for being part of a lucrative mob gambling operation that was busted in 2008 by the Queens District Attorney's office. His son Nicholas Corozzo is also involved with the Gambino family and was arrested in 2004.[77]

Andrew "Andy Campo" Campos - soldier and once acting Capo of the Bronx based LoCascio crew. Campos was the overseer for Tore LoCascio's crew, while he was in prison.[78]

Former Capos in the Gotti regime

Thomas "Tommy" Gambino - former Manhattan based capo, son of former crime family patriarch Don Carlo and nephew to former boss Paul Castellano. Tommy operations were based in Manhattan's Garment District, where he had a stranglehold on trucking services. His influence in the trucking industry reached into Queens and a far as Connecticut. Gambino is still recognized as a "made man" and crime family soldier, but he is effectively retired from active crime family operations after serving 5 years in prison from 1995-2000. Tommy Gambino underling and crime family soldier George "Big George" Remini was promoted to acting capo in 1995 when Gambino was imprisoned and by 2000 he was the official capo of the old Gambino crew, which reinforces Gambino's retirement and demotion to soldier. Remini himself is said to have recently died.

John A. Gotti - former Queens based capo, son of former crime family boss Johnny Boy Gotti Sr. Junior Gotti served as the acting boss for a brief period after his father's imprisonment. He continued too help run the day-to-day activities of the crime family as a member of the ruling panel/committee from the mid 1990s until he was imprisoned himself in 1999. Since his release in 2005 Gotti Jr. has claimed he is retired from crime family activities, but law enforcement claim Gotti Jr. is still a crime family soldier now living and operating in South Florida and continue to exert pressure on him.

Eugene "Gene" Gotti - former Queens based capo, serving a 50 year sentence for heroin trafficking. He is the brother of former Gambino boss John Gotti. He was demoted to soldier and by the start of the 1990s his brother Peter Gotti had taken over his crew and began his rise to the boss's seat. His projected release date is 2018.

Richard "Richie" Gotti - former Manhattan based capo, brother of John Gotti Sr. A waste management consultant, who was involved in gambling, loansharking, extortion and garbage hauling rackets. He is presently a crime family soldier.

Stephen "Stevie Coogan" Grammauta - a former Manhattan based capo and a longtime crime family member. Grammauta served on the crime family ruling panel/committee from 1996–2002 and allegedly held the acting boss position for a short period. Gambino took over the crime family and soldier Steven Armone was promoted to capo as a reward for his service, Grammauta may have been made if he wasn't a made member already. Anastasia's underboss Carlo Gambino would have no reason to look outside his own Mafia faction for shooters.

Gregory DePalma - a former Bronx based Acting Capo. DePalma was regarded as having a "big mouth" or "loose lips", which meant he was always talking or bragging about something. DePalma's mouth got him into trouble in 1996 when he was indicted with then acting boss John A. Gotti. DePalma pled guilty in 1997 and was jailed until 2003. Then in March 2005 he was once again indicted with then acting boss and acting underboss Arnold Squitieri and Anthony Megale in the now famous FBI sting carried out by agent Joaquin "Jack" Garcia. DePalma was convicted and sentenced to 12 years, demoted to soldier and died in prison on November 20, 2009[79]

Salvatore "Fat Sally" Scala. a former Bronx based capo, Scala was a close associate and ally of John Gotti. According to federal authorities Scala was one of the shooters in the December 1985 assassination of boss Paul Castellano that catapulted Gotti to the boss's seat. In March 2007 Scala was convicted of extortion and later of tax evasion. Scala died of liver cancer in December 2008, while in a North Carolina prison.

Ronald Trucchio "Ronnie One-Arm" - a former Queens based capo, leader of the "Ozone Park Boys", who operated in New York and South Florida. Trucchio was an influential capo, who ran a $30 million a year gambling enterprise, but he was sentenced to life in prison in 2005 for murder. He was demoted to soldier.

Anthony "Tony Pep" Trentacosta - a former South Florida based capo, he was also the first Gambino crime family member to oversee strip club operations in Atlanta, Georgia starting around 1999. Trentacosta was a close John Gotti associate and ally, who once ran a multi-million dollar gas tax scam in the 1980s. He was indicted on racketeering charges in 2001 and in April 2002 he was sentenced to 8 years. He died in December 2008.

Criminal allied organizations

The Gambino and Lucchese family alliance (1953–1985), The alliance started with Carlo Gambino, Tommy Lucchese, and Vito Genovese deciding to take over the Commission. Carlo Gambino was the new underboss for Albert Anastasia and Vito Genovese was the underboss to Frank Costello. They decided that with the help of commission member Tommy Lucchese they could take out the Costello-Anastasia alliance. They first made an attempt on the life of Frank Costello on May 2, 1957 but failed, Costello in return retired making Genovese the new boss. There second target was Albert Anastasia, on October 25, 1957 the Gallo brothers (from the Colombo family) carried out the hit making Gambino the new boss the alliance had won the battle. Lucchese and Gambino then decided it was time to get rid of Vito Genovese and used Luciano-Costello-Lansky alliance to due so. By 1959 the new alliance had Vito Genovese arrested, making Carlo Gambino the head of the commission (or Boss of Bosses). The commission was then controlled by the Gambino and Lucchese alliance. They started the Bonanno war when the made the decision that Joe Bonanno was to be replaced as Boss of the Bonanno crime family. Gambino and Lucchese also backed the Profaci Family (later Colombo crime family) Gallo crew in the war against their boss in the 1960s. In 1962 Carlo Gambino's oldest son Thomas, married Tommy Lucchese's daughter making the two families even closer. Lucchese would cut Gambino into the airport rackets he controlled and Gambino would allow the Lucchese family into other racket around New York City. When Tommy Lucchese died in July 1967 Gambino used his power over the commission to make Carmine Tramunti the new boss of the Lucchese family. The alliance continued with Gambino and Anthony Corallo up until Gambino’s death. Then Paul Castellano became the new boss of the Gambino family. He kept the alliance with Anthony Corallo who was boss of the Lucchese family. In 1985 Paul Castellano was killed by the orders of John Gotti allowing him to become the new boss and this resulted in the end of the alliance.

(The 1999–present alliance) The new alliance between the two families was started by acting Boss Steven Crea teaming up with the Gambino family capos in 1999. They extorted the construction industry and together made millions of dollars in bid-rigging.[80]

The Gambino and Genovese family alliance (1953–1959) see above

(The 1962-1972 alliance) This was between Genovese family acting boss/front boss Tomas Eboli and head of commission Carlo Gambino. The alliance was short lived because Eboli owed Gambino money that he spent on a drug deal and then lost. He was murdered on July 16, 1972.

The Gambino and Bonanno family alliance (1991–2004), The alliance started with John Gotti and new Bonanno family boss Joseph Massino. As a member of the commission John Gotti helped the Bonanno family boss Massino regain the lost commission seat for his family that occurred in the early 1970s. The Gambino family helped reorganize the Bonanno family by advising them to stay away from drugs and steer the family toward a more traditional mafia crimes (loan sharking, gambling, stock fraud and other crimes.) With the reorganization of the Bonanno Family they have become almost as strong as the Gambino family in the late 1990s.[81]

In the video game GTA IV, in which the setting is based on New York and New Jersey, the Gambetti family is a reference to the Gambinos. Also during the mission "Waste Not Want Knots" on route to a Mafia controlled waste management plant a passenger in the car mentions the Gambinos while reciting numerous fictional and real mafia families.

Law & Order commonly references the Gambinos as a literary flourish but does not involve actual persons except to allude to them by the court cases that were inspired by actual events, commonly 'Ripped from the headlines'.

1931–1951 — Vincenzo "Vincent" Mangano (recognized as the first official boss of the family which would be the Gambino Family, disappeared April 15, 1951, allegedly killed by Albert Anastasia)

1951–1957 — Albert "Mad Hatter" Anastasia (former head of the infamous death-squad Murder Incorporated, stepped up after Mangano disappeared, killed October 25, 1957, on orders of his Underboss Carlo Gambino)

1957–1976 — Carlo Gambino (family godfather, seized also the power of the Commission and recognized as the most powerful boss during his entire regime from the late 1950s and all the way up to the mid 1970s, died October 15, 1976, of natural causes)

1974–1976 — Paul "Big Paul" Castellano (acting boss) (Followed orders from his boss, Carlo Gambino, right upon his death in 1976)

1976–1985 — Paul Castellano (originally a captain and Gambino's brother-in-law who was promoted by Gambino on his death bed, which triggered a small war between two of the family's factions, killed on the orders of rival John Gotti, December 16, 1985)

1986–2002 — John Gotti (most infamous boss recognized in the media, stepped up with younger regimes, caused great rivalry between him and two other families, jailed from 1990-2002, officially recognized boss, died June 10, 2002, while incarcerated)

Current family leaders

Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo - Capo, former rival of John Gotti and Boss of the Gambino crime family. Brother of Consigliere Joseph Corozzo and the current head of the caporegimes. Named as one of the main defendants in the Operation Old Bridge case, but was tipped off in advance and went for almost four months on the run. Pleaded guilty to enterprise corruption, incarcerated at the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) on separate counts of conspiracy to commit murder.

John "Jackie Nose" D'Amico - Capo, took over the old John Gotti crew in the early 1990s, operated in Queens and Brooklyn with labor racketeering, loansharking, extortion and murder. Currently an alleged Street boss or Acting boss along with the Corozzo brothers. Named as one of the main defendants following the indictments from Operation Old Bridge, he pleaded guilty to an extortion operation at Staten Island and was in August sentenced to 2 years in prison.

Arnold "Zeke" Squitieri - Underboss, longtime caporegime in the Gambino crime family, used to operate in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn with drug trafficking during the 1980s. Now he's currently promoted to family Underboss. Squitieri was convicted of drug trafficking, illegal gambling and tax evasion in 2006, and is currently serving just over seven years in prison.

Joseph "Jo Jo" Corozzo - Current Consigliere and brother of Nicholas Corozzo, with alleged loansharking and illegal gambling operations in Manhattan and Queens. Held his position since 1992 as a former rival of John Gotti. Named in the Operation Old Bridge indictments along with his brother, Corozzo was arrested and put into custody on February 8 and was in August sentenced to 46 months in prison after pleading guilty to a racketeering conspiracy charge.

Current family Capos

Nicholas "Little Nick" Corozzo - Capo and Boss of the Gambino crime family. Brother of Consigliere Joseph Corozzo, uncle of Joseph Jr. and the current head of the caporegimes. Became a fugitive for almost four months, currently incarcerated.[2][3]

John "Jackie Nose" D'Amico - Capo, took over the old John Gotti crew in the early 1990s, operated in Queens and Brooklyn with labor racketeering, loansharking, extortion and murder. Currently an alleged street boss or acting boss along with the Corozzo brothers. Took a plead deal after the massive roundup of Gambino Family members and is serving a 2-3 year sentence. [2]

Thomas "Tommy" Gambino - Capo, son of former family godfather Carlo Gambino and nephew to Paul Castellano. Crew originally based in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, New York. Controls labor racketeering in the Garment District.[2]

Francesco "Frank" Cali - Capo, accordingly the official Gambino "ambassador to the Sicilian Mafia", Cali extorted money with Leonard DiMaria from Joseph Volleros trucking company on Staten Island.[4] A major suspect in the drug trafficking between the Sicilian Mafia and the Gambinos, Cali is currently incarcerated.[5]

Thomas "Tommy Sneakers" Cacciopoli - Capo in the New Jersey faction of the Gambinos.

Domenico "Italian Dom" Cefalu - Capo and former Underboss. Born in Italy, Cefalu is the Sicilian faction-leader of the family, along with Anthony Megale. Currently imprisoned on violation of his parole and due to the indictments from Operation Old Bridge.[2]

Daniel "Danny" Marino - Capo of the Gambinos' Queens faction with labor and construction racketeering operations. A longtime rival of John Gotti, Marino was involved in the murder-conspiracy that killed Frank DeCicco instead of Gotti in 1986.

Anthony "Sonny" Ciccone - Capo. A legend on the Brooklyn waterfront and dock boss, now serving a long prison sentence.

Salvatore "Vinny Papa" Ricchiettore - Acting Capo and current dock boss on behalf of Anthony Ciccone on the Brooklyn waterfront. Longtime member of the Gambino crime family.[2]

George "Butters" DeCicco - Capo and brother of former Gambino Underboss, Frank DeCicco. A loyalist to John Gotti, DeCicco has been operating out of the Staten Island and Brooklyn factions of the family with loansharking since the 1980s. Currently on trial.

Anthony "Tony Genius" Megale - Capo and co-leader of the Sicilian faction of the family with Domenico Cefalu, Megale was the former acting underboss of the Gambino family after Peter Gotti was sent to prison in 2002. Currently incarcerated.[2]

Eugene "Gene" Gotti - Capo, imprisoned for drug-trafficking, loansharking, murder and extortion. Brother of John, Peter, Vincent Gotti and Richard. Gene Gotti is serving 50 years in prison, but is in charge of all Gambino family loansharking business in New York.[2]

Salvatore "Fat Sally" Scala - Capo with extortion, racketeering and loansharking operations based in the Queens faction. Former heroin-trafficker and recognized by Jerry Capeci as one of the designated shooters in the murders of Paul Castellano and Thomas Bilotti.[2]

Louis "Louie Bracciole" Ricco - Caporegime, controls illegal gambling, loansharking and racketeering in one half of the Bronx, as well as operating out of the New Jersey and Brooklyn factions of the family.[2]

Salvatore "Tore" LoCascio - Capo - Son of the imprisoned Consigliere, Frank "Frankie Loc" LoCascio. Control of the other half of the Bronx faction. Used to operate within pornography that earned so much as $350 million a year, until he was prosecuted in 2003.[2]

Ronald "One Armed Ronnie" Trucchio - Capo with control of The Ozone Park Boys, used to operate in Queens with a $30 million-a-year illegal gambling operation. Sentenced to life imprisonment in 2005.[2]

Stephen "Stevie Coogan" Grammauta - Capo in the Manhattan faction of the Gambino family. Recognized by Jerry Capeci as one of the real shooters in the murder of Albert Anastasia in 1957. Reportedly served as acting boss in the "Ruling Panel" from 1996 to 2002.[2]

Louis "Big Lou" Vallario - Capo, served from 1996 to 2002 as acting boss in the Family's Ruling Committee/Panel. Took over the crew of Sam Gravano in the 1980s. One of the last aides to John Gotti. Controls crew in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn.[2]

Joseph "Sonny" Juliano - Capo in the Brooklyn faction of the Gambino crime family with illegal gambling, loansharking, fraud and wire fraud activities. Used to manage and operate a multi-million-dollar illegal gambling ring in 30 different locations in New York City.

Vincent "Vinny the Shrimp" Corrao - Capo with illegal gambling and narcotics operations. Crew originally based in Brooklyn.[2]

Vincent "Little Vinny" Artuso - Capo with control of the Palm Beach, Florida faction of the Gambino family. Former drug trafficker and recognized by Jerry Capeci as one of the four designated shooters in the murder of Paul Castellano in 1985.[2]

Anthony "Tony Pep" Trentacosta - Caporegime in the South Florida faction of the family. Former friend of John Gotti, used to run a gasoline racket that cost the US government $1 billion in tax dollars during the 1980s.[2]